Page 70 of The First Mistake

‘Then I want to do it,’ I said. ‘Wewant to do it. Mum?’

‘If you’re happy, then I’m happy,’ she said.

Thomas smiled and shook his head. ‘You two have enough chutzpah to serve an army.’

Mum and I looked at each other, taking it as a compliment.

‘But if that’s what you want ...’

‘Absolutely,’ I said, before turning to Mum and laughing. ‘And if it all goes wrong, I’ll sell the flat and reimburse you.’

‘I might hold you to that,’ she said, smiling.

26

The alarm went off, waking me from a dream I was having about Prince Harry. We were holding up a bank, demanding money, with sawn-off shotguns. His balaclava fell off and he quickly put on a mask instead, but it washispicture on the mask. What wasthatall about?

‘Wakey, wakey,’ said a sleepy voice beside me.

I groaned. It couldn’t be time to get up – I was sure I’d only just gone to sleep.

‘I don’t want you to go,’ Thomas said in my ear as he spooned me from behind.

His words jolted me, reminding me that in a few hours’ time I’d be on a coach, trying to convince thirty children not to eat too many sweets, and holding a sick bag for those who didn’t listen.

‘Can’t you tell them you’re really ill?’

‘No!’ I exclaimed as I pushed myself up. This was hard enough without him putting pressure on me. ‘That’s not who I am.’

He reached over to stroke my bare back, sending tingles down my spine. ‘But it’s a big day today. Once the deal’s gone through, we need to go out and celebrate.’

I’d momentarily forgotten about what else was happening today. Maybe that’s what my dream was about. Was it a warning?

‘We can do that on Friday night,’ I said, leaning in to kiss him. ‘We’ll have lots to celebrate then because we’ll officially be living together as well.’

‘Mmm, don’t forget to leave me a key. I’ll take the next few days to move my gear across.’

After dropping Tyson at my mum’s, we’d spent yesterday clearing out the spare bedroom to create some space for Thomas’s stuff, though he assured me he didn’t have much. Still, I wanted him to feel as if this was his home as much as mine, so gently encouraged him to bring whatever he wanted.

‘Will you let me know as soon as Mum’s money hits your account?’ I said, as he kissed me at the door. I don’t know what I felt stranger about; leaving him at my place, or having him in possession of my family’s life savings. Good job I trusted him.

‘I’ll keep you posted every step of the way,’ he said. ‘In an ideal world, both ends of the deal will happen today, but if your mum’s money doesn’t clear then we might be looking at tomorrow.’

‘And then we’llreallyhave something to celebrate,’ I said, smiling. ‘I love you.’

He kissed me deeply. ‘Love you too. I’ll see you on Friday.’

‘Hey Mum,’ I said into the phone, once I’d gone around the corner and lost sight of Thomas.

‘Hello darling, you okay?’

‘Yes, I’m just on my way into school.’

‘Looking forward to the trip?’

‘Yes and no,’ I said, honestly. ‘If it was a normal week, I would, but Thomas is moving a few of his things into the flat and—’

‘Is he now?’ she teased. ‘So, this is getting serious.’

---